17 March 2005
A travelling show to raise awareness of hepatitis C took to the road in London this week.
Research has shown that four out of five people know little or nothing about the disease.
What’s more, 80 per cent of the 200,000 infected people in England are unaware they even have the condition - which can go undetected for up to 30 years.
So a series of three-metre high portraits of people who have lived with hepatitis C are going on show across the country to shatter the ’social stigma’ of carrying the disease.
The pictures were taken by famous photographer Michele Martinoli, who has herself been successfully treated for hepatitis C.
Former member of sixties’ legends the Beach Boys, David Marks, found out he had the virus in 1999 and has helped launch the ‘faCe your past’ campaign.
He said:
"People need to take a few minutes out of their day to step back and face their pasts… have I ever injected drugs using shared equipment, even just once? Have I had an unsafe tattoo or piercing?"
Extra information
Hepatitis C is usually spread by the transfer of blood from person-to-person, for example through the sharing of needles or syringes when injecting drugs.
Many people have no symptoms, while others may feel tired and have mild abdominal discomfort.
The Hepatitis C Information Line is 0800 451 451 (textphone 0800 0850859) and is open from 10am-10pm, seven days a week.
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